Driver admits to texting before crashCrews with Arkansas Restoration Services, Inc., cut and install support beams Tuesday morning following a wreck from Monday evening around 9:46 p.m. in which a 2010 Chevy pickup drove into the Adams Automotive building at the corner of South Arkansas Avenue and East 4th Street in Russellville. The 20-year-old male driver, from London, Ark., stated to officers that he had been texting and driving when he was traveling north on Arkansas Avenue w...

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Slone replaces Hamm as interim RFD leaderRussellville Mayor Randy Horton said Tuesday he has recently appointed Battalion Chief Kirk Slone as interim fire chief during the search for a permanent fire chief. “Chief Slone has shown exceptional leadership in the fire department, and I am confident he is ready to step up until the recruitment and application process is completed,” Horton said. Fire Chief John Cochran announced his retirement in March after serving as chief for nine years...

Russellville teen's photo displayed at Vice President's residenceMihoshi Yamashita, 11, didn’t expect her photo to make it further than the National Geographic Kids My Shot webpage she posted it on. Yet, this month, her photograph of cardinal eggs in a nest is on display at the Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C. “I took the photo because I saw the other photos in the magazines, and I just thought well, I will give it a shot, no pun intended,” Yamashita said. “I entered, not thinking much would h...

County to meet with communities on vicious animal solutionThe Pope County Quorum Court’s Vicious Uncontrolled Animals Committee met Tuesday and decided to talk to mayors from neighboring communities about being partners when they receive calls about vicious, uncontrolled or nuisance animals. Justice of the Peace and Committee Chairman Philip Haney, along with JPs Caleb Moore and David Ivy, were told by County Clerk Laura McGuire that the $10,000 the full Quorum Court appropriated at its April meeting...

DTF headquarters for district gets new home for the futureDANVILLE — It may look like another building in Danville, but it’s a new home for some law enforcement agents and their director. Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II recently thanked the city and citizens of Danville for providing a building for agents of the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF). The 15th Judicial District includes Yell, Conway, Logan and Scott counties and works with over 20 law enforcement agencies. The DTF is an agenc...

RVF4K expands healthy living programRiver Valley Food 4 Kids (RVF4K) wants to do more than provide food for families in need. They also want to teach families how to incorporate a healthy lifestyle while parents are waiting in line to pick up their food. “It is set up so while the parents are line kids can take part in health and nutrition based activities,” Kristin Foster, President of RVF4K, said. “We want it to be a positive experience. Going to get help can be difficult or e...

Home sales mark 21% dip in PopeLITTLE ROCK — New and used residential home sales were up 8.72 percent for the month of April, but in Pope County home sales dropped 20.97 percent this April, according to statistics released last week by the Arkansas Realtors Association (ARA). The ARA reported 49 new and used residential homes were sold in April, compared to 62 in April 2015. Year-to-date sales are up 3.47 percent, with 209 units sold from January through April 2016, compare...

In the courtsFelonies David Gibbons, Fifth Judicial District prosecuting attorney, filed the following criminal charges in Pope County Circuit Court from May 20-27: • Bobby D. Chavers — Theft of property value >$1,000 but = $1,000 but = $1,000 but =

Preparing for Memorial DayCameron Steed, 15, of Girl Scouts Troop 6883 places a flag near the grave marker of a military veteran at Oakland Cemetery on Saturday in preparation for Memorial Day. Look for columns related to Memorial Day on the Opinion page 4A of today’s edition of The Courier.

2016 Memorial DayLocals gathered Monday morning at Depot Park in downtown Russellville for this year’s Memorial Day ceremony to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Custodial couple retires after 48 combined years at high schoolCheryl and Randy Smith have spent over a decade and a half working side by side as custodians for Clarksville High School. This year they decided to retire together. “It’s time,” Randy said about choosing to leave. “I have worked here for 32 years and it is going to be bittersweet but I am feeling it. I am only 64 but I have been pounding concrete for 32 years and Cheryl has been here for 16.” Randy and Cheryl have received lots of feedback fr...

Russellville native featured in critically acclaimed bookFor many, Memorial Day means a full day of shopping or gathering towels, food and sunscreen to hit the lake for a long-needed day off. For people like Dennis Blocker, researcher for the book “The Heart of Hell,” it is a day to honor many of the people who served in the Navy during World War II. Blocker’s grandfather, Clifford Lemke, tragically took his own life in 1999 decades after his WWII service. Lemke was grieving the loss of his wife to ...

5th graders aid homelessWhen Terri Kobs, fifth-grade teacher at St. John Catholic School, heard about the $100 solution, she knew her class had to try it. “A parent came to me and told me about the $100 solution,” Kobs said. “You obtain $100 and with that you find a need in the community, then you use the money to help. You want your efforts to be sustaining and long-lasting. You seek out organizations and people in the community to partner with. “I introduced the id...

Kauffeld guilty, sentenced to 28 yearsCLARKSVILLE — Fred Kauffeld was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday in Johnson County Circuit Court and sentenced to 28 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. The jury of six women and six men also found Kauffeld, 52, guilty of second-degree murder and guilty of residential burglary. He was sentenced to five years for the residential burglary. “The jury obviously deliberated long and hard,” Gibbons said after Kauffeld left the ...

Oakland Decoration Day is great successOakland Cemetery Director Stephanie Warwick told commission members that the first Decoration Day at the cemetery was very successful. Warwick said about 30 vehicles came to the cemetery May 1, and nearly a dozen people came to the information booth. “We got a lot of positive feedback on what we’re doing out there and the improvements that have been made,” she said. “It went very well. We couldn’t have asked for better weather.” Commissioners ...

Dover School District superintendent Jerry Owens set to retire next yearDOVER — The Dover School Board learned during a brief executive session that Superintendent Jerry Owens had submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the 2016-17 school year, the end of his current contract period. Owens was thanked for his decade of service to the district and for giving a full year’s notice to allow the board to find a suitable successor. The board also heard a presentation from former board member David Wilbanks an...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special OlympicsLocal law enforcement rode from the Johnson County line Wednesday morning to the Conway County line during the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. A quick stop at Centennial Bank (a sponsor for this year’s event) in Russellville was made to visit with local athletes and have a picture made before continuing to the county line. The Summer Games began Thursday and will run through Saturday at Harding University in Searcy where...

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Jury to continue deliberations todayCLARKSVILLE — Six women and six men ended jury deliberations after 5 p.m. Thursday more than an hour after they started in the capital murder trial of Fred Kauffeld. The jury sent a note to Circuit Judge William “Bill” Pearson and asked if they could return in the morning. He told them it was up to them. They sent a second note asking to review all the evidence in the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse. A third note at around 5:15 p.m. ...

No bond set for alleged murdererWilliam, E. Gray, 41, said that he "loved" Michelle Chisum, the woman he allegedly shot and killed at approximately 7:54 a.m. on Wednesday while she was attempting to leave his apartment on James Circle. Gray is facing capital murder charges and is being held without bond. Russellville Police Detective Glenn Daniel testified in felony bond hearings on Friday that police found Gray standing in front of his apartment after responding to a distur...